Spin2 Help

Volume Data Search

Volume Data users under specific contract to Land Titles may request a Volume Data Search for current (uncertified) surface or mineral title data based on a municipality search or an input file stored on their computer's hard drive. The user may request volume Front of Title or Front and Back of Title data in an ASCII Delimited or Text file format. The maximum number of titles run per search is 25,000. If a request exceeds the maximum number of title searches, users will be advised to contact the Land Titles SPIN 2 Help Desk, LTSystemSupport@gov.ab.ca

Implementation of the Land Titles personal privacy management policy impacts volume data products by the removal of owner name, except where specifically exempted.

Anyone interested in applying for Volume Data Search services should review the contract information available for download from the Publications website then contact the SPIN 2 Help Desk, LTSystemSupport@gov.ab.ca .

Other Volume Data Products

Attach ASCII Delimited Product

This feature is primarily intended for volume data users who need title information for loading into a database but do not have a large enough order that would warrant the cost of a high volume search and applies only to those titles selected by regular SPIN 2 title Search options for Checkout through the Shopping Cart. It allows the user to paperclip an ASCII Delimited, or XML Data, Front and Back of Title file to titles ordered by download or email. The Attach ASCII Delimited Product and Attach XML Product do not apply to titles ordered by fax and is only accessible from the shopping cart's Checkout Review Information screen. There is a limit of 250 title searches that can be done at any one time.

Note: These products conform to Land Titles personal privacy management policy and as such contains owner name.

Land Identification Numeric Code (LINC) File

The LINC file is an economical title reference product in an ASCII Delimited file format, containing Municipality Code, LINC Number, Rights Type and Data Fields. Data fields may contain any or all combinations of Short Legal Description, Long Legal Description, ATS and Title Number.

ASCII Delimited File Format

The complete SPIN 2 ASCII Format for Land Titles document is available for download from the Publications website.

File Upload Format Attributes

Files for upload must be in either a plain text file (.txt) or an XML file (.xml). The input file must be specifically formatted in order for the upload file to work properly. The maximum number of search entries per upload format is 1,000.

Note: You will be asked to refine the size of your search if your search exceeds the maximum number of 25,000 title returns.

TEXT File Upload Formats

There are four types of acceptable upload files for search purposes:

Title ATS - title search based on the Alberta Township System (ATS)
Title Non-Std ATS - title search based on the Non-Standard ATS
Title PBL - title search based on the Plan/Block/Lot
Title LINC - title search based on the LINC (Land Identifier Numeric Code) Number

Each upload file type must have the required "header" and maintain the order of the search values as expressed by the header definitions below (e.g., for Title ATS, the order must always be M,RGE,TWP,SEC,QS).

All search values must be present and separated by a semi-colon ';' (e.g., for Title ATS, 5;10;21;9;NE). If a value is not applicable, the semi-colon must still exist for that value in the file field (e.g., a PBL with only a Plan and Lot is expressed as 0020267;;1PUL). The end of a file is considered to be the first blank line in the file. Only one type of search can be returned at a time.

Title ATS (TEXT input file format)
"M","RGE","TWP","SEC","QS" (required header)
4;15;4;5;SW
5;9;9;26;N,SE
4;27;38;29;NE
6;2;56;4;NW
5;10;21;9;NE
4;19;49;30-33;
6;8;73;8;
4;22;53;;

Note: The volume data search feature allows ATS searches to the Township level; ATS Searches for Checkout using the Attach ASCII Delimited Product feature also require the Section level (e.g., 4;22;53;1-36;).

Title Non-Std ATS (TEXT input file format)
"M","RGE","TWP","LOT","TYPE" (required header)
4;13;67;65;RL
4;24;53;14;RL
4;25;54;58;SL
4;26;84;OT;
4;26;84;49;RL
4;22;66;HB;

Title PBL (TEXT input file format)
"PLAN","BLOCK","LOT" (required header)
EDMONTO;;HB,OT
RN8;7;1-3
9921318;1;141
6150KS;1;13
0020267;;1PUL,2PUL
5773AY;RLY;54
984HW;B;1-51
DUNVEGA;1;11
PELICAN;;
0020267;4;40-49,36,38,51-54,67,69
1801KS;1-3;
0020160;CS;
9820778;;
0020191;5A,5B,6A,6B,7A,7B,3A;

Note: The first 7-characters of a Settlement Name are used as the plan number (e.g., the plan number for Edmonton Settlement is EDMONTO). In addition to a lot number, the Carcajou (CARCAJO), Dunvegan (DUNVEGA), Fort Vermilion (FORTVER) and Pelican (PELICAN) Settlements, may have an added search value (i.e. block, group or range) that may be entered in the block field.

Title LINC (TEXT input file format)
"LINC" (required header)
0000000283
0000189332
0000176933
0000243675
0000233890

XML File Upload Formats

See (SPIN 2 XML Schema Documentation) for new version .xml file upload formats.

There are four types of acceptable upload files for search purposes:

LINCNumberTitleSearch - Title search based on the LINC (Land Identifier Numeric Code) Number (maximum of 250 file entries) - (example). Note: see link at the top of this section for schema documentation.

ShortLegalTitleSearch - Title search based on complex PBL, complex ATS and Non-Standard ATS formats (single or combined maximum of 50 file entries) - (example). Note: see link at the top of this section for schema documentation.

Note: As stated above, the first 7-characters of a Settlement Name are used as the plan number (e.g., the plan number for Edmonton Settlement is EDMONTO).

ParcelGeometryTitleSearch - Title search based on polygon, line and buffer, point and radius coordinates for default 10TM NAD83 projection and spatial ATS search (single or combined maximum of 5 file entries) - (example). Note: see link at the top of this section for schema documentation.

Note: 10TM is a 10-degree wide Transverse Mercator projection with a central meridian for Alberta of 115 degrees West and a scale factor at the central meridian of 0.9992

TitleNumberTitleSearch valid for above noted Attach ASCII Delimited Product title search only, based on the title number (maximum of 250 entries) - (example), for regular "Interactive" checkout through the Shopping Cart only. This product is not available through Volume Data.

Please Note: Previous .xml file upload formats will be discontinued in the near future.

Volume Data Search by File

Users selecting File for the Search Type must browse their computer for the required input file then choose a Product Type.

Note: If you need to do a search using the same search criteria on a regular basis (e.g., once a month), entering a date value in the Last Date Changed field will only return titles that have changed from that date to the present time. Changed titles do not necessarily mean a change of ownership; titles may have changed due to a variety of reasons (e.g., discharge of instrument, change of address, etc.).

Volume Data Search by Municipality

A Municipality search allows the user to select the required municipality from a drop down menu before choosing a Product Type.

Volume Data Search For Entire Province

Users selecting Province for the search type may request Front of Title or Front and Back of Title volume Mineral data.

Note: Entering a Last Date Changed value will only return titles that have changed from that date to the present time. Changed titles do not necessarily mean a change of ownership; titles may have changed due to a variety of reasons (e.g., discharge of instrument, change of address, etc.).

Current Registered Document Data (By Document Type)

Allows users to search surface and/or mineral titles, for volume current registered document data by document type, within a specific Municipality or for the entire Province. Users may request registered document data in an ASCII Delimited or Text file format. A date range limiting the users request to documents registered within the requested date range may also be specified. If the request exceeds the maximum number of 25,000 titles run per search, you will be asked to redefine the size of your search or contact the Land Titles SPIN 2 Help Desk, LTSystemsSupport@gov.ab.ca

The SPIN 2 Volume Data by Document Type File Layout is available for download from the Publications website.

Volume Data Checkout

E-mail Notification/FTP Download is the default Delivery Method and cannot be changed. Users may override the default E-mail Address and have the option of entering a Customer File Number if required. Clicking the Search button takes you to the Volume Data Checkout screen and provides the approximate title count and price prior to checkout.
Note: FTP Download is only available for a period of 7 days from the time of e-mail notification; it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that their product is downloaded within that time limit.

If an incorrect product type has been selected, clicking the Cancel button returns the user to the Volume Data Search screen where the user can select the correct product type.

Before checking out, always check the Approximate Count as it may be more cost effective to use the Checkout feature Attach ASCII Delimited Product for an approximate count under 30. For example, 25 titles at a cost of $10.00 per title would provide the user with current (or current historical) title certificates in the .pdf file format and an ASCII Delimited Front and Back of Title file for the same titles at a cost of $250.00; using Volume Data Search to order the same titles in either an ASCII Delimited or Text Front and Back of Title file format applies the flat rate of $300.00 plus $0.04 for each front and back of title for a total cost of $302.00 (fees are rounded off to the nearest dollar).

Note: Current historical titles can only be ordered through regular SPIN 2 interactive Search title options for Checkout through the Shopping Cart; see Attach ASCII Delimited Product above.

Clicking Checkout submits the order and updates the Volume Data Checkout screen with a bulk order reference number (Please print this page for your records).

Note: To avoid inadvertently resubmitting and being charged for the same request twice, do not use the browser's BACK button to return to the volume data search screen.

The bulk order reference number can be used to track the status of an order, go to Manage Account, View SPIN 2 Orders and click on View Orders. Depending on the size of an order, the status may be Pending until the order has been completed.

Once an order has been completed, the Pending status is replaced with Complete and the Order Number is provided.

E-mail notification is sent to the user's default address (or the address provided during checkout); notification includes the order number and directs the user to an FTP site for file download when their ASCII, LINC or Text file is complete; click the Download Now link to download the product file. FTP Download is only available for a period of 7 days from the time of e-mail notification; it is the responsibility of the user to ensure that their product is downloaded within that time limit.